"Hey," Will greeted softly as he entered the dim room. Diane startled slightly turning to look back over her shoulder.
"Hi," She replied with a weak smile. Diane sat on a neatly made hospital bed, the blue scrubs she wore dwarfing her petite figure.
"You look good," Will joked closing the door behind him. The beeps and buzzing of a busy emergency room dulled in the dark room. Diane almost laughed at his teasing, continuing to look out the window at the twinkling lights of Chicago's skyline.
Will moved slowly, shifting to sit on the bed beside her. The silence in the room was deafening as they both reflected on the day. Diane let her eyes slid shut, the images of the day burning their way into her brain; tormenting her.
She breathed out shakily, placing her hand palm up on Will's thigh, she waited for him to tangle his fingers with hers.
Will smiled, his hand grasping hers tightly. Diane's eyes remained closed as Will finally broke the silence.
"A janitor helped him sneak the gun in," He offered, his eyes still locked on the shimmering skyline visible through the large window. "He told the police he was going to kill Andrews regardless of the verdict." Diane gulped at this revelation, her chest aching as she once again relived the moment the young boy had been slaughtered in front of them. Her hand squeezed Will's tighter,
"And the wife?" She asked in a whisper, afraid of the answer. Will's head turned to the side and their eyes met. Shaking his head, he shrugged.
"She knew nothing."
"God," Diane gasped softly, using her free hand to cover her mouth as she shook her head. Will's other hand moved to their intertwined fingers, cradling them in a tighter embrace. Diane followed suit, her blood red nails standing out among the tangle of digits.
There was another long pained silence as she looked down at the bundle of hands, working up the courage to speak again.
"Will," She began in a quiet voice, her eyes not daring to meet his. "Back at the Courthouse, when he-" She stopped to swallow the lump in her throat. "-when he, when you stepped in front of me,"
"Diane," He sighed, shaking his head but Diane looked up meeting his eyes.
"No Will," She began staring at him intently, her expression a picture of guilt and sorrow. "I have to say this." Will shut his eyes for a moment, letting out a heavy breath as he allowed her to continue.
"You stepped in front of me, and Will, I," She stumbled at a loss for words. She wanted to thank him, but gratefulness seemed so inconsequential compared to what he'd done for her. "I know we were fighting and, I just," Tears had began to trickle down her cheeks, her eyes cloudy as they looked into his. "I, I couldn't, I just wanted to say, thank you." She finished softly and Will brought his hand up to her cheek, wiping away a stray tear before tucking a curl behind her ear.
"Diane," He shook his head smirking slightly, the curl of his lips comforting in a way she never imagined it would be. "I don't care how angry we are at each other, I'm always gonna be there to protect you." Diane laughed out at that, tears pouring from her blue eyes. "Even when you do stupid things like stand in front of a man with a gun." He raised an eyebrow pointedly, his tone teasing but she could read the underlining seriousness in his eyes."It was very stupid Diane," He continued almost chastising her and Diane nodded in agreement, smiling glumly with a shrug.
"I know," She whispered. Will sighed, silent for a long while, merely watching her.
"You love him," He said and it was more of a statement than a question. Diane blinked up at him from beneath wet lashes, swallowing the lump in her throat.
"He makes me happy," She replied softly and Will's hand tightened around hers; her partner understanding her words for what they were; a confirmation of her feelings, of love. The corners of his mouth twisted up into a trademark Will Gardner grin.
"I'm glad," He smiled, his eyes telling her how true his statement was.
"I shouldn't have kept it from you," She acknowledged guiltily and Will nodded.
"Honestly?" Will responded with a smirk."I am kinda surprised I didn't figure it out sooner. Looking back it was painfully obvious."
"It was?" She asked cocking her head to the side with a small smile and a furrowed brow.
"Please, with the way you two looked at each other?" He chuckled and Diane blushed slightly, ducking her head. The pair fell into silence again as Will watched his partner. He could see the worry and sorrow washing over her, the horror of the day blindingly obvious in her demeanor.
"Hey, he'll be okay," He finally offered but even he could hear the uncertainly in his voice. Diane looked at him again and nodded, running her fingers through her damp hair.
"He lost a lot of blood." She said, her small sobs becoming more severe with each minute.
"He's gonna pull through," He repeated more confidently this time, shuffling closer to her and wrapping an arm around her shaking shoulders. Will pulled her tightly into his body, allowing her to rest her head against his chest as she cried.
Will's mind drifted back to this afternoon as he held his friend. She'd stepped in front of McVeigh without hesitation, just as he'd done for her and there was no doubt in Will's mind this was the real deal. Diane sobbed against him, her small hand curling into the shirt the hospital had provided him with, letting out all her fear from the day.
Truth be told he wasn't sure if the opposing lawyer would make it through. He'd been in surgery for nearly three hours now, and the prognosis he'd managed to swindle from on the more friendly nurses didn't seem good.
Rubbing a hand up and down Diane's back soothingly, he eased her cries, slowly calming her down until all that was left were small hiccups.
"Do you want to go home?" He asked quietly, pressing a loving kiss to the crown of her head.
"I don't think I can," Diane replied, her cheek still pressed into his now damp shirt.
"The doctor's are going to be working on him for a few more hours, it might be an idea to get some sleep," He tried to reason with her, deep down knowing she'd never agree to his offer; that simply wasn't who she was.
"I can't Will," She said sitting up and backing away from his embrace slightly. Will met her puffy eyes, nodding in understanding.
"Then what about sleeping here for a few hours? I'll speak with the nurses, I'm sure we can arrange something." Diane hesitated at his suggestion, her body begging for sleep but her mind cautioning her against it; what if he woke up while she was asleep, or even worse, what if he didn't? "I'll wake you up if anything changes." Will continued reading her mind. Diane stared at him worriedly, her partner slowly convincing her it was for the best.
A quick trip to the nurses station and a flirty smile later; the empty room was theirs. Diane stretched out along the bed, pulling a blanket over her to fight off the cold of the air con.
Will smiled, happy she'd decided to take his advice. Settling into the chair beside the bed he looked to his friend.
"Will?" She said quietly.
"Yeah?"
"Don't let him die," Her voice trembled as she voiced her fears and Will merely nodded, not willing or able to make that promise but desperately wanting to.
"Rest," He advised and Diane nodded, lying her hand close to his. Will entangled their fingers, squeezing her hand tightly until finally, finally she fell asleep.
-0-0-0-
The walk down the florescent corridor took forever, the world dragging along in slow motion as she moved toward his room. Will's large hand was wrapped around hers comfortingly; dwarfing hers as they walked.
Her heart raced as the numbers increased with each door, before they finally came to a stop in front of the door the Doctor had pointed to. Diane's step faulted, her body suddenly frozen in place.
"Diane?" Will asked with a frown, noting the pale ash of her face. "Are you okay?"
Diane shook her head, her stomach turning as she stared at the frosted glass of the door. Will's hand stilled the shake of her hand, squeezing it lovingly.
"I can't" Diane whispered, tears pooling in her eyes.
"You can," Will said calmly, his voice steady and confident. Diane turned to look at him, her expression douched in fear.
"I can't." Her voice trembled as she tried to tug her hand from his, intending to turn around and leave.
"Diane," Will started again, his hands coming up to cup her cheeks as he looked directly into her eyes. "You can do this." Diane nodded feebly, finding confidence in his confidence.
"Okay," She breathed out softly, tears sneaking down her cheeks. Will swiped the water away with his thumbs, smiling kindly.
"I'll be right outside." He added and Diane bit her bottom lip, turning back to the door.
Her hand fell to the cool metal handle, pressing it down with a gulp she entered the cold room. Her eyes thinned at the dim lighting, the contrast from the hallway making her squint. Biting her bottom lip she finally worked up the courage to glance to the center of the room.
Her heart stopped at the sight before her. Kurt lay on a cramped hospital bed,his body dead still, face ashen and chest sporting a large bandage.
Her feet somehow moved toward the bedside and before she knew it, her hand was entertwining with his. His hand was freezing, ice cold and nothing like the hands that touched her and loved her.
She breathed out a shaky breath, pulling the plastic visitor's chair closer to the bed and sitting in it; her hand never leaving his. Tears snaked in rivers down her cheeks as she rested her head on the bed, clutching his hand as she cried.
The silence of the room frightened her, the quiet wrapping around them suffocating the pair. Her sobs the only sound in the dark hospital room.
How did things end up like this?
She couldn't say how long she lay there, head resting on the man she loved, her hands cradling his trying to warm him. Finally after a long moment, she pressed her chapped lips to his fingers and lifted her head, looking to his face.
Diane gasped as she met his eyes. Dark green orbs stared back at her, a smirk hiding under a mustache. Her body doubled over with another sob; the tears she thought she'd run out of suddenly replenishing themselves.
Her head fell to the mattress beside his hip again as she cried and cried, his large hand moving to thread into her blonde curls. His fingers glided soothingly over head her, comforting her with out a single word.
"Diane," He said hoarsely after a while, his throat rough from the anesthetic. Diane remained in her position not yet ready to look up and meet his eyes. "Diane," He repeated in a whisper, sliding his hand from her hair to her hand. Tugging her fingers gently, he forced her to lift her face.
Kurt smiled as she looked up at him, his hand curling around her cheek; his thumb softly caressing the tear stained skin.
"God, you're beautiful," He murmured. Diane shut her eyes and let out a small chuckle at that. She knew she looked awful, she'd spent the majority of the evening crying, first with Will and now here with Kurt. Her face was puffy and red and she knew she looked a mess. She pressed her lips together tightly, swallowing hard as she looked to him again.
"I thought I'd lost you,"She admitted quietly and Kurt pulled her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to it.
"Not that easily, Lockhart." He joked and more tears tumbled from her eyes.
"I was so worried I wouldn't get a chance to tell you." She said in a rush, her heart beating out of her chest and Kurt frowned.
"Tell me what?" Diane smiled at that, shaking her head slightly.
"Tell you I'm in love with you." Her honestly hit him like a tonne of bricks. Of course he'd suspected, he'd hoped but he'd never thought she'd admit it so freely.
"Well," He breathed out pensively and Diane's brow furrowed.
"Well?"
"I should get shot more often," He smirked and Diane shook her head furiously. "If that's your reaction," He laughed and Diane slapped his upper arm angrily. "Ow!" Kurt yelled. "i'm injured here!"
"You'll live," she snarked darkly, her eyes thinning but her smile loving.
"I love you, too." He said after a long silence of staring into each other's eyes.
"You do?" She asked girlishly, blushing feverishly.
"I do," He whispered, tugging her hand again and bring her closer. Diane leaned over him, her smile honest and wide as she bent down to press her lips to his.
The kiss was soft and innocent; barely lips pressing against lips. It was possibly the most tame kiss they'd ever shared, mostly preferring tongues and teeth and passion, but if asked, they'd both agree it was their favorite. It was slow and intimate and said more than three little words ever could.
"Don't ever do that to me again," She said sadly as she pulled back, their faces barely an inch apart. Kurt shut his eyes with a smirk, his hand twisting into her hair and pulling her down for another kiss. His tongue slid passed her lips, kissing her deeply and passionately. A hungry kiss filled with life that left her gasping.
Diane smiled blushing as they broke apart. Slowly she drifted back to her seat, grinning at him lovingly.
"Stop smiling like that!" He chastised but he knew his face wore the same goofy, love-filled expression as hers.
Diane smiled at him again, the sorrow in her eyes dissipating even more as he squeezed her hand.
"I spoke with Will," He said after a long silence and Diane raised an eyebrow curiously.
"You did?" The skeptasim must have seeped through her words because Kurt laughed heartily; clutching his chest when the laughter's joyous sound shot a pain through his 's eyes immediately widened in fear, her body inching forward; her hand wrapping around his fingers tighter.
"Shall I get a nurse?" She asked frantically, the expression of dread in her blue eyes, both warming his heart and breaking it. She really loved him, if her words weren't proof enough the worry in her eyes and the tremble in her voice would have given it away.
"No," Kurt replied softy, shaking his head. "I just have to remember not to laugh for a while," He joked with a dazzling smile. Diane hiccuped out a nervous chuckle, scooting herself and the chair closer to his bedside, her knees pressing into the metal bars almost painfully in her pursuit of proximity.
Kurt could tell she was still wary, worried he was hurting more than he let on, but what was a little pain in the face of talking to this woman.
"He loves you, you know?" Kurt continued and Diane ducked her head down, looking at her lap as she blushed.
"I know," She admitted shyly and Kurt squeezed her hand, begging for her attention once again, desperate to see her face.
"Threatened me within an inch of my life," Kurt noted and Diane's blue eyes widened in horror.
"What?"
"Oh yeah," Kurt smirked. "Told me if I hurt you, he'd personally hunt me down." Diane laughed softly at this, shaking her head in amusement.
"And do you plan to hurt me?" She asked with an arched eyebrow, her tone teasing and sexy.
"Of all the things I plan to do to you, hurting you isn't even on the list." He flirted back lowly and suddenly Diane felt her cheeks redden for an altogether different reason. Lord! He made her feel like she was 15! "Plus, Will's threat seemed pretty legitimate."
"Oh it was, and I hear he's got a pretty good lawyer," She added in jest and the pair fell into a comfortable silence, both grinning foolishly at each other.
After a few minutes, Diane broke the silence by lifting his hand to her lips and pressing a gentle kiss to his skin.
"C'here" Kurt said tugging on the hand she held and pulling her into the bed with him.
"Kurt," Diane warned warily, not wanting to hurt him.
"I'm fine," He replied, shifting to curl his arm around her waist as she lay on her side; snuggled beside him. Her head rested on his shoulder, her hand hovering just above his chest; afraid to touch him or hurt him.
Kurt let out a breath of amusement, Grabbing her small hand in his and lowering it to the bandage covering his torso. Diane relaxed slightly, her eyes falling shut as she pressed kitten kisses to his bare shoulder and neck.
Kurt's arm tightened around her, pulling her impossibly closer.
"Diane?"
"Hmm?"
"What are you doing Friday night?" Diane frowned at his question, pushing herself up to look into his green eyes.
"What?" She asked.
"What are you doing Friday?" He repeated with a gentle smile.
"Uh, I, Uh I don't know." She replied in confusion. "Why?" Kurt's grin grew beneath his mustache, his eyes sparkling.
"I want to take you on a date." He responded simply and Diane bit her bottom lip to hide her happiness.
"You want to date me?" SHe asked with a small joyous laugh.
"I want to do more than that, but a date's a start." Kurt said smugly and Diane felt her cheeks colour once again."C'mon, we'll go somewhere fancy, some prestigious liberal restaurant, you'll wear a dress and i'll wear a tie. It'll be just like the movies.
"Kurt," She began kindly, her fingers caressing his cheek lovingly. "I hate to break it to you, but I don't think you're getting out of here anytime soon." Kurt rolled his eyes at that and Diane leaned down to kiss him softly, her lips barely moving against his."But I'll wait," She whispered as they parted; staring directly into his eyes, barely an inch apart.
"Not afraid to be seen out in public with the enemy?" He joked and Diane scoffed, smiling brightly as she shook her head.
"You're not the enemy, Kurt." She said her thumb once again stroking his cheek.
"I'm not?" He questioned incredulously, an eyebrow bouncing up in amusement.
"No, you never were." She replied in a low voice, moving forward to kiss him once more before settling back into her spot beside him.
"I love you, Diane." He whispered into the dark room, his eyes sliding closed as he let sleep take him. Diane breathed in deeply, laying her cheek against his skin happily.
"I love you, too."
-0-0-0-
That's all folks! Thanks for coming along for the ride and thanks so much for being patient with this last chapter! I wrote about 4 different endings some where Kurt lived and some where he died but I decided on this because I think I may write a sequel and I wanted to leave a door open!
Anyway thanks to all who reviewed or left kudos! It means the world to me!
Hope you enjoyed it!
That's all folks! Thanks for coming along for the ride and thanks so much for being patient with this last chapter! I wrote about 4 different endings some where Kurt lived and some where he died but I decided on this because I think I may write a sequel and I wanted to leave a door open!
Anyway thanks to all who reviewed or left kudos! It means the world to me!
Hope you enjoyed it!
x